Ref Watch: Dermot Gallagher discusses Man Utd’s Marcel Sabitzer’s challenge on Wout Faes, Tottenham’s handball call and more | Football News

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher dissects the flashpoints from the weekend in the latest round of Ref Watch.

Gallagher also discussed the departure of Video Assistant Referee Lee Mason from PGMOL last week, after he left by mutual consent, following a high-profile error in Arsenal’s draw with Brentford.

He said: “I’m not really surprised. He had a difficult trip last week and he’s had a few things before. Maybe he spoke to the leadership team and felt it wasn’t working for him, and he felt the same.

Man Utd 3-0 Leicester

INCIDENT: Marcel Sabitzer caught Wout Faes below the knee with a stud up. It sent the Leicester defender to the floor and despite the clumsy challenge, the Man Utd midfielder was not penalised.

DERMOT said: “He was very lucky. I think it was a red card. When you put a stud into the knee of a very tall man, it’s dangerous.

“The only thing he couldn’t do was the free kick. The referee had to give a penalty on the field. Maybe VAR thought Sabitzer was close, so he didn’t think it had an impact.

“It’s all about the referee’s decision – if he gives a red card and it goes to VAR, it’s not overturned.

“One of the problems for VAR is that the referee gave a free kick to (Wout) Weghorst, so by giving him a free kick, he signaled to VAR that he had seen it and dealt with it.”

Tottenham 2-0 West Ham

INCIDENT: Tottenham thought they should have had a penalty in the first half. Richarlison’s pass to Harry Kane was intercepted by Thilo Kehrer. However, nothing was given by the referee and VAR did not intervene.

DERMOT said: “I think it’s a handball and the referee should give it because Kehrer has his arm out. If not, then it goes to Harry Kane.

“The referee had a good look and he ran. When talking to VAR, he probably said ‘I think he’s backwards and off balance and he’s going to go to the ground and block the ball.

“The referee has eliminated VAR there to some extent. The only way you’re going to get a penalty is if VAR gives it.

“VAR is not there to decide what is right or wrong, if there is a real howler … Michael Oliver has no choice to go to the screen. He cannot think ‘I have to look again. ‘, it is not his choice.

“If VAR says to him ‘you might want to go and look at it, we think it’s a mistake’, he can still go to the screen and stick with his decision. But it should trigger another way.

Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool

INCIDENT: Nick Pope is sent off after a tackle outside his area. He came out to meet a long pass with Mohamed Salah in pursuit, but his attempt to slide saw the ball hit his hands.

Sean Longstaff was behind him, raising the question of whether the Pope was the last man.

DERMOT said: “Red card. Denied a clear scoring chance. If he didn’t handle the ball, Salah would have controlled the ball, got closer to the goal.

“Not if he (Salah) should have scored, but if he had a chance to get a clear shot.

“In any appeal, they will have to prove that the referee made a clear and obvious error. I would suggest that the chances are very remote. A covering defender, if he comes back, is not an unlikely goalkeeper.”

What makes this incident any different to Thiago Silva’s yellow card against Crystal Palace in October for the same act?

“I still think it’s a yellow card because the important thing is the player with the ball? Salah and Ayew should have held the ball and moved to the left, so they didn’t go straight to the goal.”

Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal

meaccident: Arsenal scored their third goal when Jorginho’s shot flew into the back of the net off the head of Emiliano Martinez. There are some questions about whether the Aston Villa goalkeeper has been blocked.

DERMOT said: “Line of vision is the most difficult call because there is no right or wrong. The football is so far away, he got a lot of time to try and see. It felt like he had a good dive and had a chance to try and save it.

“That’s the reason. It’s very difficult because you almost have to touch one of those players or you have to get close to him or you have to be dumb, as we saw with players the other week.”

Hibernian 2-0 Kilmarnock

INCIDENT: Kilmarnock’s Kyle Vassel was sent off after a high boot while playing Hibernian. VAR recommended the referee upgrade the initial yellow card decision.

DERMOT said: “I think it’s the right thing because he can see it coming. That’s the difference – he knows he’s going to lead the ball and he chooses to put his head there. He knows the risk he’s taking and the consequences.

“I don’t expect anything other than a red card there. He knows he’s going to catch someone.”